Labeling-machine.



No. 730,424. 'PATBNTEDJUNEQ, 1903.. P. B. WENZEL. LABELING-MACHINE.

AP-PLIGATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1902.

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P'ATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

6 SHBBT-SHEET 2.

' P. E. WENZEL.

LABELING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1902. me monnn.

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NO. 7s0,424.

PATENTED' JUNE 9, 190s.-. P. E. WENZEL. LABELING MACHINE. QWLIGATIONFILED SEPT. 6, 1 902.

5 SHEETS SHBET 3. 7

:10 MODEL.

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15'. .B. WENZEL'. LABELING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED SEPT, 6, I901 30MODEL.

5 SHEETS-553E131.

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Patented June 9, 1903.

OFFICE.

FREDRICK E. WENZEL, OF LACROSSE, WISCONSIN.

LA B EL'lNG MACHlN E.

SPECIFICATION forming page of Letters Patent No. 730,424, dated June 9,1 e03.

Application filed September 6, 1902. Serial No. 122,335. (No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDRICK E. WENZEL, a citizen of the United States,residing at La Grosse, county of La Crosse, and State of Wisconsin, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvemen tsin Labeling-Machines,ofwhichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines in which bottles arelabeled as they are carried on an endless carrier through the machine. I

The objects of the invention are to provide alabelingmachine which willapply the body and neck labels to the bottles in an expeditious andefficient manner; also, to provide such a machine with means forapplying either the long or the short neck-labels, to provide a simpleand eflicient label-carrying mechanism, to provide a bottle-holder withmeans for automatically opening and closing it as it is moved throughthe machine by its carrier, and also to provide means for rotating thebottle-carrier at stated intervals to" bring it into proper position forthe label-ab fixing devices; also, to provide a simple and effectivelabel-feeding mechanism meeting with the label-carrier andpastesupplying mechanism. These and other objects I accomplish by theconstruction shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is aside elevation of my improved Fig. 2 is an enlarged pera connection 7 atits outer end with the middle labeling-machine. spective of one set ofbody-label-applying mechanism. paste receptacle and roller.

labels and a bottle about to pass between them. Fig. 5 is a plan view ofthe operating gearing and shafting. plan of one of the bottle-holderswith a portion of the endless carrier and frame. Fig. 7 is an enlargedsectional front elevation of one of the bottle-holders. Fig. 8 is anenlarged elevation of one of the label-holders and the actuatingmechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail of one of the nuts and screws foractuatingthe label-followers. Fig. 9 is an enlarged rear elevation of one of thelabel-carriers. Fig. 10 is a plan of the machine with the label andpaste mechanisms removed and showing the progress of a bottle through amachine. Fig. 1O? isa detail view of a por- Fig. 3 is a detail view ofone Fig. 4 is a detail rear elevation of the wipers for the body- Fig. 6is an enlarged I Lion of one track-rail. Fig. 11 is an enlarged planview of the label and paste mechanisms. Fig.12.shows a bottle with thebody-labels applied and the neck-label partially applied. Fig. 13 showsthe bottle and the neck-label at another stage. Fig. 14 shows the bottlewith both labels applied.

' The 'frame of the'machine comprises four uprights A, longitudinal sidebars A, and cross-bars A i B B are the endless tracks secured to thepairs of uprights A, and these tracks each comprise upper and lowermembers B B, connected attheiropposite endsby the curved end sections BThe inner sides of these tracks are provided with endless grooves b, inwhich travel the ends of the slats or crosspieces 0' O. The purpose ofthese slats is to keep the bottle from tilting backward or forward, andthey are secured at intervals to the endless chains 0 O by means ofsuitable clips or fastenings c c. The ends of these slats are provided,preferably, with rollers c o to run in the track-grooves I). (See Fig.6.) These carrier-chains pass around sprocket wheels 1 1, mounted onshafts 23, journaled' inhearings on the endsof the frame and constitutethe endless carrier for the bottle-holders to be presently described.The bearing 4 of shaft 3 is mounted on two guide belts or rods 5 5 andis adjustable thereon by means of the set-screw 6, having aball-and-socket of bearingt, so that by turning said setfscr'ew thehearing may. be moved to regulate, .the tension of the endless chains 0G, and when properly adjusted the screw 6 will be locked by a nut 8.(See Fig. l.)

Power is applied to the sprocket-wheel 9 on shaft 2 from the main shaftE by means ofa sprocket-chain E and a sprocket-wheel E The main shaft Eis provided with fast and loose pulleys e e.

In the lower part of the frame are two alined line-shafts E E gearedtogether and to a counter-shaftF by bevel-gears ff f and the shaft E isgeared to the main shaft 1 by bevel-gears e a while the shaft E isgeared to a second counter-shaft F by bevelgears f' f (See Fig. 5.)

The endless carrier C C is provided between every pair of slats O C witha bottle- IOO holder D, so that there is an endless series ofbottle-holders traveling through the machine between the tracks.

Each bottle-holder D comprises a centrallyapertured cross-bar orbed-piece D, provided at each end with an arm (1, secured to the chainsC O by means of clips 0 and beyond which clips said arms are providedwith rollers (1 which travel in the track-grooves b. On a centralcross-bar d on the upper side of the cross-bar d is the rotaryclamp-carrier D to which is secured the upper end of a shaft (1,extended down through the central aperture in cross-bar D and havingagear-wheel d on the low end.

The clamp-carrier D is provided at its ends with pairs of arms d, whichrest loosely on top of the chains 0 O to prevent the clampcarrier fromrotating when bottle-carrier is not in channeled-out places ,in frame,and these arms d d do not enter the track-grooves b, as will be seen inFig. 6.

On top of the clam p-carrier D are the bottle-clamping jaws D which arepivoted at their rear ends, as shown at (P, to move toward and from eachother and clamp the base of a bottle between them. For this purpose theadjacent faces of the clamping-jaws are recessed, and these recesses areprovided with bushings d of some yielding material, such as rubber, andwhen so clamped the bottle rests upon the clamp-carrier D The free endsof the jaws D are forced apart by means of an expansion-spring 01",mounted on a pin r1 and the jaws are held closed against the action ofsaid spring by means of a spring-catch D, secured to one jaw and havingan aperture engaging a pin or catch (1 on the other jaw. (See Figs. 6and 7.) The free end (Z of this catch projects beyond the outer side ofthe jaw into the path of areleasing lug or arm D at the rear of themachine, so as to lift the catch out of engagement with the pin (1 andpermit the jaws to spring apart and release the bottle. These jaws D arealso automatically closed upon a bottle by means of the rollers D Dsecured to opposite sides of the forward ends of the tracks, as shown inFigs. 1, 10, and engaging the rear outer rounded corners of the jaws asthey pass and forcing them into closed position around the bottle. Gindicates the label mechanism for the body-label, and comprises twocurved tracks G G, formed of angle-iron and mounted on top of the tracksB B, the tracks extending upwardly and rearwardly from points just inrear of the jaw-closing rollers D and these tracks G G are supported attheir upper rear ends by the standards g, and braced thereto bycross-pieces g 9 G is the label-carrier, pivoted between the outer endsof two vertically-swinging slotted levers G G, pivoted at their rearends to the lower ends of the standards g g.

The label-carrier G is formed of two end pieces g 9 to which the leversG are pivoted,

and in these end pieces at opposite sides of their pivots g are mountedthe rollers or wheels g g which travel along the tracks G as the levers;G are swung up and down. Extending inwardly from the end pieces g g arepairs of arms g, and these arms are connected by an arched brace 9 (SeeFigs. 2 and 9.)

G indicates the label-carrying plates, adjustable toward and from eachother for bottles of varying diameters by means of parallel slotted armsg and screws g On the rear faces of these plates or bars G are thevertical ribs g for a purpose to be presently described. When thelabel-carrier G3 is in its lowest position, it will be heldperpendicular (see Fig. 2) by means of two guide posts or lugs Bprojecting up from the rails B, in which position it will hold the labelacross the space between its plates G for the bottle to engage as it iscarried rearwardly.

The levers G are rocked by means of rods H H, provided at their forkedupper ends with rollers- 72., which enter the lever-slots, while similarrollers h on the lower ends of the rods engage cams H on the ends ofcounter-shaft F. The rods H are guided vertically in the bearings 7L2and are held down on the cams by means of the spiral springs h I is thevertically-movable paste-box, having supporting-bars 1, provided withpairs of depending guide-arms t', mounted in the upper braces orcross-pieces g and provided thereabove with supporting-collars i andbelow the braces with spiral springs i to return the box to its normalposition. Within the paste-boxis mounted a shaft 71 having a pair ofdistributing-rollers t and a scraper i provided with an adjusting-screw6 whereby the amount of paste carried up by the rollers may beregulated.

I is a rock-shaft, provided with upwardlyextending curved arms iprojecting. under the paste-box and having a downwardly-projectingoperating-arm i engaged by a pin or lug i on a vertically-sliding rod 1mounted in hearings in the braces g g at one side of the frame andprovided at its lower end with a roller 11 in the path of a cam-lug D onthe left side of the bottle-holder D. This camlug D raises the rod 1which in turn rocks shaft 1 to raise its arms i and elevate thepaste-box so that its rollers will be in the path of the paste-ribs g ofthe label-carrier G when the same is raised by the rods H.

J is the body-label holder in rear of the paste-box andv mounted in thesame way to move vertically. The label-holder is provided withsupporting-bars J, depending guidearms j, having supporting-collars j,and spiral springsj and the label-holder is raised by a rock-shaft Jhaving curved armsj", engaging the lower side of label-holder, andarmsf, engaged by a pinor lugj on the upper part of a vertically-slidingrod J which rod has arollerj on its lower end in the path of a cam-lug Don the right side of the bottlethe bottle.

carrier D, the rod J 3 being in rear of the other rod 1 By thisconstruction the label-holder J will be raised after the paste-box tobring its top label up against the paste-carrying ribs g g the paste-boxI having been lowered to its normal position in the meantime by reasonof lug D passing from under its rod 1 and the label-holder J will belowered in like manner. The label-carrier D will now be brought downbehind the guide-lugs B in which position the label will be heldvertically edgewise across the path of the bottle.

K K are flexible label-wipers immediately in rear of the label-holderand against which the bottle carries the label L, which is wiped aroundit by said wipers. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) These wipers comprise standardsor frames is k at opposite sides of the machine and pro Vided withinwardlyprojecting sheets of yielding material k.

Holders D are so spaced and above mechanisms are so timed thata labelwill be brought down into position for every bottle, and the cam H is soformed that its flattened point of greatest diameter will engage andhold red struction and through which pass the verti-' cal screws Jswiveled at their upper and lower ends to the label-holder. These screwsJ and nut'sj raise the follower J and the labels resting thereon, andwhen it is desired to lower the follower it is simply necessary to pushit down, as the ratchet-nuts allow of such movement, as is wellunderstood. The screw-shafts J 5 are provided at their lower ends withworm-wheels J .1, between which extends a worm J 7 on a shaft J providedat one end with a ratchet-wheel J 8 8 This label-actuating mechanism isall carried by the label-holder and moves up and down with it, and theratchet-wheel J 9 is turned the distance of one tooth or far enough tokeep one label exposed at the top of the holder J by means of a pawl Jpivoted to an arm or bracket J so as to swing up when the ratchet-wheelmoves up with the holder,

but to remain rigid when the ratchet-wheel moves down and so turn it, asabove described.

It will be seen that by the above-described mechanism a bottle may beplaced on the holder D at the front of the machine and that the jawswill be closed on the bottle by the rollers D and that the bottle willthen pass between the members G of the label-holder and carry thebody-label back against thewipers K, which will wipe the label aroundthe bottle and cause its ends which are supplied with paste by theribs Ito adhere to As the bottle-holder D moves rearwa'rdly the lugs D D willraise the paste- .two places.

(See Figs.

box I and label-holder J and the cam H will raise the label carrier andreturn it with a label in time for the next bottle. When the labeledbottle reaches the rear end of the machine, it will be released by meansof the releasing-arm D which lifts the catch D? out of engagement withthe pin c1 whereupon the spring d will throw the jaws I) open andrelease the bottle.

G is a second label-applying mechanism constructed like that justdescribed andlocated in rear thereof and in a higher plane, so as toapply neck-labels to the bottles after their bodylabels have beenapplied.

The neck-labeling mechanism G being the same as the body-labelingmechanism will only be briefly described, as follows: G is thelabel-carrier; G, the operating-levers therefor; H, the rods for rockingsaid. levers, and H the cam for reciprocating said rods. These rods H Hwill be made adjustable in any suitable'manner, so as to properlyregulate the throw of levers Gr G 1* designates the paste-box; 1 itsactuating-rod. J X is the label-holder, and J 3X its actuating-rod.

After a bottle has been supplied with a body-label it will be carriedalong to the necklabeler, where a neck-label will be applied. If theneck-label is a short one, it will be applied to the bottle withoutrotating the latter; but where long neck-labels are used,as shown at L,Figs. 12 to 14, the bottle must be retated, as will now be described,and the label-carrier will have four paste-carrying ribs g and thepasterollers '6 will be proportionately lengthened, sothat the longlabels will be gummed in four places instead of in (See Fig. 11.) Ofcourse the label-holder will be correspondingly lengthened, as is alsoshown in Fig. 11.

In order thatthe bottle may be rotated after it passes the body-labelwipers K and before it reaches the neck-label holder, I provide a IIOrack R in the path of the gear-wheels cl and secured adjnstably to oneof the upper rails B by means of slots 7 and screws or bolts r. Theupper sides of the rails are cut away, as shown at Z2 so that when thegear engages the rack R and rotates the bottle holder space will beformed to allow the ends d to clear the rails.

The rack R and gear 01 are so proportioned that the bottle-holder willbe given a half-turn, thereby to make'the back of the bottle-neck facethe neck-label holder and cause it to engage the label, as in Fig. 12,and then carry it against the second set of wipersK K. After this thegear 65 engages rack R, which gives it a quarter-turn, and so turns thebottle .at the first oscillating wiper K, which wipes one end of thelabel around the neck, as shown in Fig. 13, after which a longer rack Rroholder far enough to restore it to its original position, and therebybring its bottle-clamps in position for release of their catch D by thearm D. All three of these racks R R R are provided with the slots andset-screws, and when they are moved back out of the way of gear (1 theopen spaces 5 at every rack will be filled by the filling-strips I).(See Fig. 10%) The oscillating wipers K K are mounted at opposite sidesof the machine on the top rails and are provided with slottedoperatingarms 70 k engaged by rollers on the upper ends of the slidingrods k 10 engaging at their lower ends with oppositely-arranged cams k70 on the ends of the shaft F. These cams rock the wipers in successionas the bottle is brought into position relative thereto in order tobring the curved brushes 70 down to the bottle-neck in position forwiping the label ends therearound.

The operation is as follows: The shaft E is set in motion, whereupon thevarious parts begin their movements, as above described. The operator atthe front end of the machine places a bottle in the holderD just beforeit reaches the rollers D whereupon the rollers will close theclamping-jaws upon the bottle, which will now pass on to the frontorbody-label carrier, which will hold a label in its path, saidlabel-carrier having made its upward movement to and return movementfrom its paste-box and label-holder through the action of the rods H andcams H and the pastebox and label-holder having been elevated into thepath of the label-carrier by their rods 1 J and the cams D D on one ofthe preceding bottle-holders and then dropped back after the said cams DD have passed from under the rods. The holder containing the bottle nowpasses through the label-carrier and carries the label with it throughthe front pair of flexible wipers, which wrap it or bend it around thebottle and cause its pasted or gummed ends to become attached to thebottle. The holder, with the bottle, now reaches the first rack R, whichgives the holder a half-turn to the left and causes the bottle to facein the opposite direction, and in this position the bottle-neck will bebrought against the neck-label held in the neck-label carrier, which hasgone through the same operation as the body-label carrier. Thebottle-holder proceeds, and the rear set of flexible wipers Kwill bendthe long neck-label into U shape from rear to front onthe bottle-neck,after which the bottle-holder reaches the rack R, which gives it aquarter-turn to the right, and at the same time the curved brush hasbeen brought into position and one end of the label wiped into place onthe neck. After passing the rack R the bottle-holder comes opposite tothe third rack R which gives it a three-quarter turn to the left, andthe rear wiping-brush 70 comes simultaneously into action and wipes theother end of the neck-label in place. The bottle-holder is now restoredto its original position and proceeds rearwardly with the bottle, whichis released, as before stated, by the releasing-arm D lifting the catchD of the bottle-clamp.

Where short neck-labels are to be applied, the racks R R R are moved outof the path of the bottle-holder gear d and a short-label holder andpaste-box like those for the bodylabel will be employed. Where noneck-labels are to be applied, the mechanism G will be thrown out ofaction, as by raising the sev-' eral operating-rods out of the path oftheir cams.

I do not restrict myself to the exact mechanisms illustrated, as theymay be considerably varied within the scope of my invention, nor do Irestrict the use of the machine to bottle-labeling, as it is obviousthat articles other than bottles may be labeled thereby or with veryslight changes in the present mechand means for causing thelabel-carrier to travel horizontally over the paste and label mechanismsand on its return with a label, present it vertically endwise across thepath of the bottles.

2. The combination with an endless horizontally-traveling carrierprovided with a plurality of bottle-holders to engage the bottoms of thebottles, a verticallymovable paste mechanism over the said endlesscarrier, and a vertically-movable label-holder in rear of said pastemechanism, of a forked or divided label-carrier, pivoted levers to thefree ends of which said label-carrier is pivoted, means for causing thelabel-carrier to travel horizontally over the paste mechanism andlabelholder and on its return with alabel, present it verticallyedgewise across the path of the bottles, and mechanism for operating thepaste and label-holding mechanism.

3. The combination with a plurality of traveling bottle-holders eachprovided with jaws for clamping the bottom of a bottle, a catch forlocking the jaws together around a bottle, and means for automaticallyclosing the said jaws and means for automatically releasing said catch,of a label-carrier, and paste and label mechanism therefor,substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a plurality of traveling bottle-holders, of alabeling mechanism comprising a label-carrier, mechanism for operatingthe carrier toward and from the path of the bottle-holders, avertically-movable paste mechanism, means for raising the same into thepath of the label-carrier to apply paste to it,a vertically-movablelabel-supply in rear of the paste mechanism, means for raising thelabel-supply to the overlying paste-supplied surface of thelabel-carrier, means for returnin g the label and paste supply devicesto their normal position prior to the return movement of thelabel-carrier, and means for wiping or wrapping the label upon thebottle as it is carried through the label-carrier.

5. The combination with a plurality of tra veling bottle-holders, of alabeling mechanism comprising alabel-carrier, means for moving thelabel-carrier toward and from the path of the bottle-holders, a pastemechanism and label-supply, means for moving the same into and out ofthe path of the label-carrier, a feed mechanism for the label-supply,means foractuating said feed from the movement of said label-supply, andmeans for aftixing the label upon the bottle as the latter is carriedthrough the label-carrier, sn bstantiall y as described.

6. The combination with a plurality of horizontally-travelingbottle-holders, of front and rear label-carriers mounted over the saidbottle-holders in diiterent horizontal planes and movable toward andfrom the paths in which the bodies and necks of the bottles travel,means for actuating said label-carriers in harmony, a paste and labelsupply over the bottle-holders for each label-carrier and coactingtherewith to first supply the paste and then the labels, and means forwiping or smoothing the labels on the bottles when the bottles passthrough the carriers, substantially as described.

' 7. The combination with apluralityof traveling bottle-holders, oflevers each swinging in a vertical plane, at opposite sides of the pathof the bottle-holders, mechanism for actuating the said levers, alabel-carrier pivoted to the free end of said levers and having spacedpaste-receiving surfaces to engage a label and hold it across the'pathof the bottles, curved tracks on which the label-carrier runs, guides atthe lower ends of the tracks to hold the label-holder and labelvertically edgewise and vertically-movable paste and label supplymechanisms at the upper ends of the tracks to supply paste and labels insuccession to the label-carrier, substantially as described.

8. The combination withaplurality of traveling bottle-holders, of leverseach swinging in a vertical plane and pivoted at opposite sides of thepath of said holders, a label-carrier in two spaced sections at theouter ends of said levers; each section having on its rear face apaste-receiving surface, upwardly and rearwardl y curved tracks for thelabel-carrier and means for operating the levers, a label and a pastesupply mechanism at the upper ends oi": the tracks over which thelabelcarrier travels, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a plurality of horizontally-travelingbottle-holders, of levers swinging in a vertical plane pivoted atopposite sides of the path of said holders, alabelholder at the freeends of said levers and formed in two spaced adjustable sections betweenwhich the bottles are adapted to pass, upwardly and rearwardly curvedtracks for the label-carrier and a label-supply mechanism at the upperend of the tracks, substantialiy as described.

10. In a labeling-machine, a label-carrier comprising a yoke, acarrier-section at each end of the yoke having rollers and provided withparallel plates or members adjustable toward and from each other and atrack for said rollers, substantially as described.

11. A labeling-machine comprising an endless series of bottle-holders, adriving mechanism therefor, a label mechanism mounted above the path ofthe holders, and comprising curved tracks, a label-carrier travelingthereon toward and from the bottle-holders,- pivoted levers to the outerends of which said label-carrier is con nected, operating-rods connectedat their upper ends to said levers, a shaft having cams engaging thelower ends of said rods and vertically-movable pasteand label boxes atthe upper ends of the curved track and provided with operating-rodsactuated from the bottle-holders to raise the paste and label devicesinto the path of the label carrier, substantially as described.

12. In a labeling-machine the combination with the travelingbottle-holders, of the upwardly and rearwardly movable labelcarrier, andmeans for moving it toward and from the bottle-holders, of paste andlabel boxes or holders, in the upper rearward path of the label-carrier,rock-shafts having arms engaging the paste and label boxes to raisethem, and vertically-reci procating rods in operative connection withthe said rock-shafts and actuated successively from said bottle-holders,substantially as described.

13. In a labeling-machine,the combination with the travelingbottle-holders having camlugs on opposite sides,ofa label-carrier, meansfor moving it toward and from the bottleholders, paste and label holdersin the upper rearward path of the labelcarrier, rock-shafts having armsengaging said paste and label boxes to raise them, springs forretracting said boxes, and rods operatively connected at their upperends with said rock-shafts and extending at their lower ends into thepaths of said cam-lugs, substantially as described.

14. The combination with the rotary traveling bottle-holders, of bodyand neck labeling mechanisms one in advance of the other and adapted tobring the labels in the path of the body and neck of the bottle, meansfor imparting rotary motion to the bottle-holders between the twolabeling mechanisms, to present the rear of the bottleneck to the middleof the neck-label, neck-label wipers to engage the ends of theneck-labels and means adjacent to each of the said wipers to rotate thebottle-holder in opposite directions and restore it finally, to the samenormal position, substantially as described.

15. The combination with rotary traveling bottle-holders each having anoperating-shaft provided with a gear, of the body and neck labelingmechanisms one in advance of the other to supply the body and necklabels in the paths of the bodies and necks of the bottles, wipers inrear of the neck-labeling mechanisms having curved brushes at theirupper ends to engage the ends of the neck-labels, and threealternately-arranged racks located in the paths of the gears on theshafts of said bottle-holders to rotate the same for the purposes setforth.

16. The combination with the traveling bottle-holders each having anoperating-shaft provided. with a gear, of the body and neck labelingmechanisms one in advance of the other to supply the body and necklabels in the paths of the bodies and necks of the bottles, rockingwipers at opposite sides of the machine in rear of the neck-labelingmechanism and having curved brushes at their upper ends to successivelyengage the ends of the neck-label, means for actuating the said rockingwipers, in harmony with the travel of the bottle-holders, racks in thepath of the bottle-holder gears for rotating the bottle-holders in themanner described in advance of the neck-labeler, and at each rockingwiper; the said racks being adapted to be moved out of the path of saidgears, substantially as set forth.

17. In alabeling-machine, a bottle-carrying mechanism comprising, thevendless tracks,

' endless chains having pairs of slats with their ends in said tracks,bottle-holders provided with base members secured to the chains betweenevery pair of slats and having their ends projecting into said tracks, aclamp-carrier secured to each base-piece and having projections restingfreely on the chains and terminating exterior to the tracks, and clampsmounted on the upper sides of the clamp-carriers to grasp the base ofthe bottle.

18. Inalabeling-machine,abottle-carrying mechanism comprising theendless tracks having cut-away portions on its upper side,

' sprocket-wheels, endless chains on the Wheels and provided with pairsof slats extended at their ends into said tracks, and bottle-holderscomprising base-pieces secured to the chains between the pairs of slatswith their ends entering said track, clamp-carriers mounted on thebase-pieces with their ends overlying the chains exterior to the tracks,pivoted clamps on said clamp-holders, and a locking device to hold theclamp closed upon the base of a bottle, a shaft secured to theclamp-carrier and extended down through the said basepiece and thereprovided with a gear, and racks for actuating said gear, substantiallyas described.

19. In a labeling-machine, a bottle-carrier provided on its upper sidewith clamps to grasp the base of a bottle and hold it vertically,springs to separate the clamps and a spring-catch to hold the clamps intheir closed position, substantially as described.

20. A labeling-machine, comprising the endless tracks, thesprocket-wheels, the endless chains, the bottle-holders carried therebyand having automatically-operated clamps to grasp and release thebottles, a drive-shaft geared to one of the sprocket-wheels, twocounter-shafts geared to the drive-shaft and provided with cams at theirends, front and rear labeling mechanisms each having a paste and labelsupply and a label-carrier, pivoted levers to which said label-carriersare pivoted and adapted to carry gum-med labels down into the path ofthe bottles, rods extended down from said pivoted lovers to the cams'onone of said counter-shafts, flexible wipers in rear of the lowestposition of the label-carriers, and rocking wipers in rear of the rearlabeling mechanism and provided with operating-rods engaging the cams onthe rear counter-shaft, substantially as described.

21. In a labeling-machine, the combination with the vertically-movablelabel-box open at its top and provided with a follower, of screwshaftsengaging the ends of the follower, worm-gears on the lower end of thescrewshafts, a worm-shaft provided with a worm meshing with said worm-gears, a ratchetwheel on said shaft and a pawl mounted independent ofthe label-box and engaging the ratchet-wheel to rotate it when thelabel-box moves down and yield when the box moves up, substantially asdescribed.

22. In a labeling-machine, the combination with the vertically-movablelabel-box open at its top and provided with a follower havingratchet-nuts at its ends, of screw-shafts swiveled to the label-box andpassing through said nuts to raise the follower and allow itto be pusheddown, worm-gears on the lower ends of the screw-shafts, a worm-shafthaving its worm meshing with said worm-wheels

